Gouda Beignets. That's all I need.
These deliciously filled beignets are my favorite. I am a slut for anything with cheese and these just do the trick! Â Bouligny also has some good cocktails (tea infused vodka? yum!). Â
It can get quite packed on a busy night and really isn't a great standing bar- the only room is really just the pathway between the bar and tables from the front door to the back. There is a side patio with a few tables and furniture, but again not a lot of room otherwise. This is a great place to come if you are eating next door at Lilette and waiting for a table- you can have a drink and they'll come get you when its ready!
Love the creativity of their food choices, had the Fried Gnocchi and Duck Confit (both worth getting again). Â Went on a Saturday and it was packed, which means the inside is super noisy! Â Their computer system was wrong so the waiter "accidentally" charged us an extra 50% on our bottle of wine...when I pointed it out he was nice enough to correct the error. Â
Dress Code: Jeans and a cute top are completely appropriate. Â "Dressy" is ok too, but not required by any means.
Just for the record, I have not eaten here, we only stopped in for cocktails. I still feel like a review is necessary only because first impressions can be lasting ones. The place was pretty empty when my husband & I sat at the bar. I think there may have been 1 other table, it was on a Monday night though so I was relieved the place wasn't packed. I prepared myself for a super fancy cocktail & at first had no qualms paying a bit extra for the effort.
I liked the ambiance a lot, swanky 60's style, but considering we were just getting a round of drinks, I had not thought that my attire needed to match the surroundings. We sat there for at LEAST 20 minutes while our bartender piddled around behind the bar, before taking our order. I guess maybe he didn't see us there with his nose far up in the air.
I can't even tell you what I ordered because I was so distracted by the nasty look on the bartender's face. Maybe some milk went sour behind the bar? Because that's what he looked like the entire time we were there. We're not bywater crusties, or demanding, or rude. He wasn't even busy so I can't imagine what the problem was. My husband, who was quite a few drinks into the night, normally doesn't notice these things. But from the moment we ordered, he was ready to leave.
Maybe I should consider giving this place another try. I suppose I need to put on a designer dress, & squeeze in with a bunch of girls (that go woo!), on a Saturday night to see a better side of this place. On second thought, pass.
Wood paneling always makes me want something with bourbon. This place grows on you. I didn't like it the first time I went. I thought it was trying too hard to be hip. But second time around and with a better bartender at hand, it was a good time with a good atmosphere. Their food sounds amazing on the menu but overall, I wasn't overly impressed with these pricey bar bites. Stick to their craft cocktails.
I will admit, surround me with wood paneling and spin some vinyl and you can't help but feel a little Don Draper cool.
Some other Yelp reviewer called it "retro-chic" and that sounds about right. Great atmosphere and nice portions (small plates) of excellent food. I've been here several times and will return many more times. Magazine St has few bars with this kind of character and food.
The music is supplied by a turntable, and they have a small but excellent selection of vinyl. It can get crowded as the evening wears on, so if you want to experience it with minimal competition it's best to get there around 6 pm or 6:30.
A cute, trendy little restaurant/bar on Magazine. Lots of fun people watching. Even on a popular night you can still manage to grab a table. The outdoor seating in the back down the stairs is pretty romantic and quieter than being inside the bar area. I love the large couch, it's perfect for a larger group. Drinks were good, strong! I really liked the marrow and garlic bruschetta, not something you frequently see on menus, but marrow is so delicious and decadent. Boyfriend was pretty obsessed with the sirloin burger. The first time I came by, we had a couple misses with the dishes, but this time we really enjoyed ourselves.
Review Source:If they served sweet potato fries, this would be a 5 star review. Service was excellent and the food was superb. I had the burger; possibly the best I've ever had. Tried several starters and each one seemed better thant he one before. Drinks and food came out with perfect timing and perfect temperature. Friendly atmosphere; highly recommended.
Review Source:Stopped in for dinner Saturday evening.
The tavern is very attractive inside and out. It has a cozy, sophisticated feel to it. Â The staff is neatly dressed. Â Great first impression.
It was about half full at the time, seats were available at both the bar and some of the tables.  We seated ourselves at a table along the back wall.  That was a probably a mistake - it's not obvious when you walk in or sit down, but this is a pretty loud bar.  It is difficult to carry on a private conversation over the table.  Music in the background was too loud, did  nothing for the atmosphere.  I know way more than I want to about the couple that sat down next to us. Â
Help was friendly. Â Loved the classy dresses the waitresses were wearing. Â Service was no more than average. Â The floor staff was hustling, but there weren't very many of them. Â It seems like there needs to be a couple more people on the floor
The tavern advertises small plates, no mention of the small menu - this has a "Bar Rescue" feel to it - very tight, very focused menu, 6 beers (nothing local) and maybe a dozen high end mixed drinks.  There is a large and comprehensive wine offering.  Old folks alert - if  you use reading glasses, bring them if you are planning to read the menu.  Lighting is low and the print is tiny. Â
The food ranged from boring to the best:
Duck Confit - Tasty. However, who ever wrote the menu is embarrassing themselves by even mentioning the lettuce (one piece) or the pickled celery pieces - I doubt the two of them together would constitute 2 calories. Â
Sirloin burger - maybe the best burger I've ever had. Â Now, it was a $12 burger, no lettuce, no pickled celery, but it was a hellofa burger.
Argulo salad - good, nothing special, but $9? Â There couldn't have been more than $0.50 of ingredients in this. Â
Bruschetta - looked pretty, tasted boring. Â
I really wanted to like this place, but it was too noisy and it didn't feel like a good value. Â There are better tapas to be had and better bars to drink at. Â It's a shame, I really liked the feel when I walked in and I might even go back to try it again.
Bottom line  - $80 for two.
By far my favorite place to hang out on Magazine Street!
There is a very cool laid back atmosphere and they play records so you aren't listening to the top forty all night. There's a cute courtyard outside with christmas lights and lanterns.. Not to mention the place is tucked away so it's a lot more intimate than other bars on Magazine.
Food is awesome and I didn't try any drinks I didn't enjoy. Stopped in this past week and asked the bartender to make me a Chocotini which for some reason I had been craving all day. Mike whipped up the best one I have ever had and it totally exceeded my expectations. Love this place!
I just joined yelp to write this review. Â That should tell you something.
The food here is superb. Â We came with friends wanting to drink and eat...but not to the point of being gorged into food coma territory. Â The offerings, like a huge bowl of delicious fries with aioli, hushpuppies piled high, and bruchetta cut to serve 4 are fun to share and each provided a delicious flavor combination. Â The plates were unique and exciting. Â We purchased around 7-8 dishes to share with 4 people and we were all more than satisfied. Â Because of the size of the dishes, I think this would be a great place to go prior to a night on the town. Â Drinks were great too- lots of cocktails to choose from.
The vibe is absolutely perfect here. Â It's dark and very trendy, which is a rare find in NO. Â
I only took a star off for the service, which was painful at times. Â The waitress seemed overwhelmed when she tried to do the typical "memorizing your order gig" but then proceeded to forget everything we ordered.
Overall, the entire experience was fully worth it, and I think I just found my new favorite restaurant.
Hold, on, let me be your wing-women for a moment, yelpers!
Take it from a straight lady who has scores of dudes as close/best friends: Bouligny Tavern is packed with hot women on a Saturday night.
As a side note, I will note that many of them were unfortunately attired. I mean, "unfortunate" from the perspective of anyone who has a clue about fashion. Hey, who needs a beach, when you have the Bouligny Tavern? Bad style aside... I don't know if they were plants or what, but I haven't seen a scene like this yet in New Orleans. It was quite interesting to observe. My friend and I were seated by the bathroom so the line up afforded many a viewing opportunity.
Onto more germane details. I realize not everyone reading this review will be a slobbering male (or female).
As our cab drove past Bouligny Tavern last night on the way to elsewhere, the positive memories of my stellar experience here just a couple weeks ago had me asking the cab driver to make an immediate U-turn. The Pavlovian response was too much to bear. I needed more of those spectacular small plates.
Now let me tell you about the delicious (and modestly described) fried squash. The absolute best I've ever had. Slices so large had me wondering if they were giving us eggplant instead. They are lightly battered, but what makes these babies sing is the lemon zest sprinkled on top. Gorgeous!! An Amalfi Coast moment in time. I half expected to see the dark, dark sea a hundred feet beneath the terrace I was dining on. Alas, there was no such terrace. And the only indication that we could possibly be on a beach were the aforementioned outfits.
No matter, I still adore you, Bouligny Tavern.
We came here for a friend's birthday gathering. We stepped inside before being direct to the patio area outside just to the right of the building. Â I could tell immediately that it wasn't the sort of place I would normally hang out at, even if I lived on this side of town. It was just a little too fancy for me, and it was packed with fancy folks drinking fancy drinks. Yes, I am a beer kind of gal, but when your beer list includes Miller High Life (which should never be more than $2) and you are charging for $4 for a 12 oz. bottle, I know I am in the wrong place.
The courtyard area was a super sweet spot with nice patio furniture and strings of lights crisscrossing above everything, cool and comfortable. The service was a little slow, but they got us what we needed. I didn't get any food, but some folks did and had nice things to say about them.
Atmosphere is awesome. Drinks were a bit disappointing. Cosmo was nearly all vodka & cranberry vodka was all vodka. When we asked for a less strong cran-vodka, it came back nearly all cranberry. The tapas are good. Our server happened to be terrible, but the place could easily be better with a better server. I'd give it another shot.
Review Source:I would sink to one star, but since I loved the decor, I have to stick with two.
There were two waitstaff present for inside and out. On a Friday night. Of jazz fest. After waiting, Â and waiting, and waiting for someone, ANYONE, to take our drink orders, the manager reluctantly took our orders and huffed away like we asked him if we could cut off his right arm and beat him with it. Again, we waited for a good 15-20 minutes for our drinks. I ordered a vodka and 7-up with a splash of creme de cassis (guess they had to go juice the elderberries) and my husband ordered some cocktail off the menu. A teaticket something or other. He enjoyed his but mine was less than average due to the flat sprite. No way was I asking for another drink since there were only 3 bartenders working. The waitperson came back around and we ordered another round if drinks, but when they arrived, guess whose drink was missing? Mine. Those darn elderberries again!
The food. Wait, that was food with the jacked up prices? Before you start pummeling me with elderberries, let me state that I realize where I was. Trendy magazine street, I know. But, come on, man! Kobe pigs in a blanket? Fries, oops pomme frites, with aioli? More like Pillsbury crescent rolls wrapped around Oscar Meyer lil smokies with a blob of French's mustard. Greasy fries with Blue Plate mayo with some garlic puree.
So, unless you have a white linen suit from Perlis and the cutest sundress EVER from Town & Country and are under 35, stay far, far away. I know I am.
There is only one reason why I am not giving this 5 Stars and that is because I want to make sure it's not the love haze I am experiencing with this place because I loved it the other night!
Somehow I never came here until this past weekend and I do not know how I or why this is. It's so my scene...a little fancy without being pretentious with fabulous cocktails and a great wine list. Plus amazing small plates...can we say Gouda Beignets! Please order them, they are to die for!
But even more than all that, I fell in love with the atmosphere...the retro chic decor that made me feel like I could meet Don Draper and Roger Sterling any time. (please let that happen)
So yes, I will be going the as soon as the possible and I hope it's just as good the first time....
As an earlier reviewer said, this place is very 60's retro-chic. It's awesome that they play real vinyl, and the acoustics in the place aren't half bad either. Overall it has a very sexy, intimate, and smooth vibe and is a great place, as my friend said, to go for an adult version of the "after-school snack" - an "after-work snack", if you will. I think it works better for a date than for groups, but I saw lots of groups there having a good time, so don't take my word for it.
We started with the spicy wasabi peas, curried popcorn, and slightly BBQ tasting chips. Then we ordered a Creminélli Sopressata plate with some sort of special cow's milk cheese plate with bread..my friend asked for extra bread, which resulted in us getting a very normal (I might even say smallish) amount of bread, which leads me to believe that they normally short you on the bread. Moral of the story is to ask for extra bread!! For dessert we got the ice cream of the day with cookies. I can't remember what the ice cream was but it was fantastic and house made, and they thoughtfully gave us two cookies for happy sharing.
I drank a Teaticket Fizz, which is has Oolong Tea infused vodka, cranberry liqueur, lemon juice, and soda. It was delicious but not very strong. I next ordered, at the suggestion of my companion, a French 75, which is not on the menu but is some sort of champagne concoction which was both delicious and inebriating. My friend had the Sage Julep, which is comprised of gin, lemon juice, and muddled sage.
Overall I'm now basically in love with this place, but it's not cheap enough/I don't yet make enough money to be stopping by here casually on the reg. I think our bill came to aroudnd $60-$70 after tip.
Cocky? Â Yes, in a good way. Â In other words, if you're a nuclear physicist then I have no problem with you being totally arrogant about that. Â And if one can do cocktails, food and atmosphere like these guys, one deserves the cocky torch.
I mean, sipping a perfectly made vodka martini with caviar and accoutrements will make anyone put on their smoking jackets and slippers. Â We followed that with a sage mojito, garlic and bone marrow toast, and an order of langoustines. Â Yes, freaking langoustines.
I then kicked my feet up on their porch, people watched, and reached in my pocket for a fine Dominican cigar, which I did not have. But it felt totally right.
Great place for some upscale drinking. They have some pretty good specialty cocktails, the food is good too. I especially love the cheese plate, but that's because cheese is my favorite food. The atmosphere is really chill and there is usually a pretty tame crowd. It's great if you are waiting for your table at Lilette, the time will fly as you sip your cocktail.
Review Source:Bouligny is 60's retro-chic without an attitude. Â The warm wood tones and geometrix-interior create a welcoming atmosphere of brass-finishes and colored glass that remind me of the relaxing couch at your aunt's house in Old Metairie back when you would hear Dean Martin records, Etta James and Tower of Power all on the same turntable stereo cabinet. Yup, they do spin real vinyl here. One of its great appeals. Â
The crowd vacillates between 30 something hipsters and more mid-ranged elegant patrons lounging on its elongated concrete-stone bar but there's no pretension, just delightful tapas and interesting and well-executed cocktails. The wine list is good too, but the beer list is short. Â
This is a great place to meet up with friends before you head to another destination or a nice rendezvous point for a later engagement. The bartenders are knowledgeable and attentive and seem to really enjoy their craft and service.
My favorite cocktails - Le Boulevardier (bourbon meets campari and sweet vermouth), Teaticket Fizz (oolong tea infused vodka w/ lemon) and the Sage Julep (gin muddled with sage and lemon) Â All good choices.
My favorite food - Hands down the the bone marrow crostini w/ garlic and Gouda Beignets. What's not to like about bone marrow and garlic on a perfect toasted crunch of bread? This is so good you may want to bring a tissue with you to wipe up your tears as you spring with gladness. The beignets? Warm, salty, gooey, semi-flakey. If you don't like these when you try them, save them. Contact me. And I'll eat them. I'll even reimburse you.
The gnocchi w/ truffle and parmigiano, duck liver pate & hush puppies w/ tomato jam and fries w/ aioli are notably delicious as well.
Wow, this place is truly great - but I wish everybody would stop classifying Bouligny Tavern as a Gastropub just because it has Tavern in its name. Â It's not a gastropub - it's an upscale small plate food & drink place that has nice cocktails, a very nice wine list, and excellent food (but limited beers which pretty much negates the idea of calling this a gastropub). Â The burrata & pesto bruschetta was outstanding and the gougeres were tiny and apparently multiply like rabbits but all 19 of the airy pastries were eventually consumed because they were just plain good. Â The burger was close to perfect (just on the edge of being overseasoned for my palate but cooked perfectly and extremely tasty) while the spinach gnudi were also amazing - little spinach "meatballs" with a great tomato sauce and cheese that complemented them perfectly.
There are only about 30 seats at tables and probably half as many at the [busy] bar - it's a fairly good looking and trendy crowd of professionals which is not a bad thing and as long as you can find a seat you'll get great drinks and food. Â Go for the great food, cocktails, and wine - it's a fantastic place that takes pride in everything (other than the service at times) and you'll enjoy whatever you get.
I've been here twice. The first time was just for drinks and based on that experience, I would give this place three stars. My second time was for dinner (with a French person) and based on that experience I'd give this place 4.5 stars.
As a bar, I found the wine overpriced and the wines by the glass were not that great. I did like the atmosphere - sophisticated young adult crowd peppered with some Tulane yuppies.
When I came here to eat my whole party was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. Our party of four ordered 6 small plates and a bottle of wine. The food was sooooo good and the bottle was good too. I mention that I came with a French person because without him, I would have had no idea what wine to order, as they are all French.
I would highly recommend this place for a dinner with friends.
Bouligny Tavern had not been on my radar until fairly recently. Went here on NYE for some pre-dinner drinks and snacks before our late evening dinner elsewhere. I really liked the vaguely post-modern/classy early 1960s lounge feel.
I had the sage gimlet, which was very refreshing. We ordered some small plates - the parmesan gnocchi and the gouda beignets. Y'all, if you are into crunchy, cheesey, slightly salty small plates, GET THESE. Really tasty.
Would definitely visit here again.
Four stars is the right review for Bouligny, but I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. Â The Reisling I had tastes like it was about $12 a bottle, and a glass went for $9 at the bar. Â A bit of price-jacking, you think? Â
The food was good, though small portions - be warned. Â I liked that, because it meant I could try more things. Â The short ribs were great, and the gouda beignets are as indulgent as they sound.
I like the bartenders I had - nice, attentive, but not hovering. Â
The atmosphere is not too quiet, not too loud, it seems like the great place to bring a date because of that. Â I loved the decor and the wood paneling. Â The whole scene feels very comfortable, but not tacky or kitschy. Â Go here for drinks and bites, but nothing more. Â You won't get substantial food, or cheap beer. Â It's a place to spend an hour or two, but not all night.
Did I mention that I HATE the new "GASTROPUB" concept going on in New Orleans recently. Â They don't have Abita Amber here and the food is way overpriced for the basic and not so great food. Â Just like all the "gastropubs" that are going on in New Orleans why should I bother with mediocrity and when I can just go to a real restaurant or bar where you can actually eat a plate of food that will fill you up instead of being a snack and actually get a selection of more than 4 beers. Â Did I mention I HATE GASTROPUBS!!!
There seems to usually be some decent looking women in this establishment and it seems to be one of the more trendy places to be "seen" but it just doesn't work for me and I really don't like what they did with all the "modern" renovations to this classic New Orleans building.
I really like Lilette and I enjoy dining there so it is very surprising to me that I dislike this place so much. Â I think it just goes to the core of the fact that I love to DINE and not SNACK and that is why I just can't seem to stand any of the places called Gastropubs so far (and that none of them have my BEER). Â It seems to me that I have a far more enjoyable experience eating and drinking at Lilette with far better quality food, a larger selection of drinks, and more comfortable seating so why should I bother with anything at Boligny Taven other than the motivation that women like small plates and go there in large groups. Â Ahhh it just doesn't motivate me and I will be staying on the Lilette side.
I've had everything on the menu and I've never been disappointed. That said, some of the items are better than the others. The burger is one of the best in town (my second favorite). The gouda beignets are as delicious as they sound. The marrow and garic on french bread is amazing. I wasn't crazy about the langoustine, but it wasn't terrible.
The drinks are really good as well. They are always fresh and the bartenders are very sociable. The waitresses aren't the best in town, but it's a tavern, so I don't expect 5-star service.
Chef John Harris has done a great job of extending the Lillette style. Oh, and if you want something from Lillette, you can order it at Bouligny. I usually finish off my time at Bouligny with the hazelnut pudding from next door.
Definitely a must-try.
I took my best friend here for her birthday and we both loved it! Â The sirloin burger was fantastic. Â I had never loved a burger as much as this one. Â The gnocchi was not my favorite, but the cheese plate was good. Â Our service was very friendly and knowledgeable and gave us a great reccommendation for our drinks. Â They were a bit strong, though. Â
Great design and space - very mod and contemporary, but relaxed.
I will definitely go back and I highly recommend the sirloin burger!
On a long weekend trip to New Orleans, friend and I were headed to Baru on the recommendation of a local. Well, Baru was closed on a Monday, so there we were with our BYO pinot noir and no dinner. We took a chance that Bouligny would let us have our wine there. Chuck greeted us warmly and was very gracious about it. We ended up spending quite a  bit on food and more drinks and generally had a great time at the BT.
They serve small plates--ask for recommendations. My fave was the spinach and ricotta "balls" in marinara sauce.
3rd visit to this chic and trendy establishment. Â During my first visit, the menu choices I selected were not the greatest, but service was attentive and cordial. Â Second visit was along with other repeat customers and we got exceptional attention from the server and the bar. Â This last visit was a total miss. Â Although the food was good (excellent burger), service was no where to be found. Â The server was friendly, but not knowledgeable about the menu; she kept on referring to her notes and mispronouncing ingredients that I am certain she had no clue what they are. Â
We sat out front and we could have walked out with out paying several times during the night, because we got absolutely no service. Â We had to walk in the restaurant to ask for a server to come an take our order, the drink order came all one at a time, and the food did too all at different times. Â When I asked the server, she quickly responded that it is the restaurant concept, no apology or solution to a simple drink that I had been waiting for over 20 minutes. Â
Needless to say, I walked out very disappointed on the lack of service they offer; although, the few interactions we had with a staff member was pleasant. Â
Would I return? Â If so, it will be in a long while. Â
Would I recommend to others? Â Only if not interested in drinking or eating, but simply sitting and talking among friends. Â
So, to recap, this last visit I experienced little to no service, delayed delivery of drinks and food, wrong drink, and not the complete food order, other than that it was okay.
A wonderful addition to the adult beverage scene, due to the menu of delicious small plates. I've come here a few times now and although it's been busy, I've never been turned off by a meat market crowd, as aforementioned. Maybe I'm coming on the wrong nights.
Can I just say how cool the industrial lightbulbs hanging from the plush ceiling squares are? I find them mesmerising, as I unsafely lean back with my glass-full of libation. These drinks are potent! Wonderfully, they are not at all too sweet, and there is a good selection of liquor (although not quite as artisan as Cure's).
The food, however, keeps Bouligny high on my list of "well, we just ate dinner, so what can we do now?" spots. What can I say? I'm a sucker for goose fat fries, and when accompanied by a garlicky aioli on the side of Kobe pigs in a blanket or fried gnocchi (the best idea ever) resting on a bed of shaved Parmesan... well, let me just say that it wasn't the most advisable second dinner last night. Since they share a chef with Lilette, the dessert options (though only 2) are well worth it. Fresh strawberry ice cream with pieces of berry, served with pistachio cookies? Om nom nom for shizzle.
If you're planning on coming here, please Tweet me. I just may join you. Any excuse to come here is a good excuse by me.
Met some friends for a few late night drinks here- classy wine bar & gastropub.
Loved that they were still serving small plates at 11:30 and the bartenders were definitely worth their pay. They had traditional table and bar seating as well as a lounge area near the front with couches and such. The clientele is very much on the snottier side but that can be good or bad depending on what you're looking for. It's a nice late night place without being too over the top. Look forward to going again!
I feel blessed because the night I stopped by it was cold and windy outside; it kept away the annoying throngs that previous reviewers mentioned. This dimly lit lounge gives off the cozy vibe of watering holes of the past, conjuring  images of mid-20th century drinking. Once inside, you're offered 21st century libations and small plates crafted with care and conviction.
I admit freely to being a vodka-bot, and when given a menu that is gin-centric, with amaro and tequila being runners-up, I am not ready to dive into these waters. Some of us are allergic to juniper, and until those pine needles are out of the way, then so am I.
The powers that be invented single malt and thankfully I will drink them. The bar selection is quite good given the size limitation, and the cocktails my friend ordered packed a good punch. But the star seems to be the food...
The gorges, warm bite-sized cheese puffs, will disappear instantly and your hands are reaching for items that are no longer on the plate. I'm still thinking about the spinach gnudi, and wishing it was offered as an entree.
I can't wait to come back, try a burger and listen to the eccentric vinyl selections the bartenders play on the turntable.
I enjoy bars, and I enjoy adult bevs, but when I first tried to venture into Bouligny Tavern a week ago it was a fail. Â I walked in with my partner in crime for the evening, and while yes it was crowded, the vibe in the place has a meat market effect. Â Like "who just walked in and what are they wearing" etc. Â Not my/our speed. Â So we bolted and spent the remainder of the evening at The Saint. Â I know, I know, apples and oranges these two are, but hear me out.
Last night, I go for attempt number two and succeeded on staying. Â This go I had a different friend in tow who's had a few bevs here before so that was my in. Â She sat at the bar while I stood, because it was that crowded. Â It was less meat market-y but I don't know, there's something about this space that I'm not comfortable with. Â Two words summed up the decor to me and that was: '78 porno. Â Ever see "Boogie Nights"? Â The gold barstools, the deep drapes, and dark wood finishes paired with the boxiness of design. Â You'll see what I mean - - -
As for the menu, I was excited to partake of the Dragon's Milk after reading the description and seeing the execution. Â But the taste was more akin to fresh gym socks. Â Nonetheless I drink it - all. Â And I don't know, I'll be back, but I gotta say, my first experiences are meh.
My first time being a first review & it's in one of my favorite cities! We stopped in here after shopping on Magazine Street and felt like we'd stepped into a swanky, upscale 50s lounge. Beautiful & interesting vintage decor, waitstaff in vests & cool cocktail dresses, and so friendly too! The cocktails are modern updates of classics (or they felt that way) and the waitress even brought me a stick of brandied cherries because I said I loved them. Â And did I say Gouda beignets?!
Would love to return soon for dinner, hopefully when we're back next month!
Bouligny Tavern is a "winecentric gastropub" brought to you by John Harris of Lilette. This place is everything a wine bar (or a cocktail bar) should be- warm and intimate, modern yet classic. The renovated interior is beautiful- lots of dark wood, earth tones, accents of muted indigo and orange. There are shelves of interesting antique and modern glassware displayed above the bar. No detail was overlooked. It is a small space- just a bar and banquette seating and tables.
The food was very good. My friend & I split several items. The GOUDA BEIGNETS are the star of the menu. Delicious, light, cheesy. I will order these every time I go- either as a snack or to begin a meal. The duck confit was excellent (served with scrumptious little potatoes). I've eaten duck confit several times recently, and this was the best version. The spinach gnudi was my least favorite item. This was way too heavy on the spinach, not enough ricotta, so it seemed more like calzone filling than gnudi. If you're craving gnudi, order them at A Mano.
In the mood for something sweet? Lilette's pastry chef does double duty at Bouligny Tavern. We had the most incredible dessert- pumpkin panna cotta with caramel mousse, red wine reduction, and two delicious little shortbread cookies. AMAZING. Smooth, creamy, decadent. This would have been great with coffee or red wine. It was a special- too bad it's not on the regular menu.
For a place that is supposed to be a wine bar, the list of wines by the glass is short (and expensive)- 6 reds, 6 whites, 4 sparkling. There is also a concise list of cocktails. I had an Aperol spritzer, which probably not the best pairing with food but I love them.
Some of the menu items seem pricey at first glance, such as the crostini and bruschetta, which are priced per item. However, after seeing a portion, it is a better value than anticipated (it's a really big crostini).
The service was very good. We sat at the bar and interacted with several bartenders. They were friendly and attentive.
This would be a great place to go on a date or with a small group, or meet for drinks before or after dinner. I can already tell from tonight's visit that Bouligny Tavern will be the place where the beautiful people of Uptown congregate.
The next time you are in the mood for a fancy winebar / gastropub, head to Bouligny Tavern. And make sure you get the gouda beignets.
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